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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Released March 2009
Panasonic ZS7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ10
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS8
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the ZS7 (12MP) is very similar but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and ZS7 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The E-30 was released 3 years prior to the ZS7 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-30 grades vs the ZS7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic ZS7

 E-30 ZS7 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Olympus E-30

 ZS7 E-30 
RevealedJuly 2011March 2009More modern by 28 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS7

 E-30 ZS7 
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 comes with physical dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS7 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-30 and the ZS7.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and ZS7 is 60 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by going over technical specs. The image below will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and ZS7.

As you have seen, both of the cameras offer the same exact resolution but different sensor sizes. The E-30 has got the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field simpler. The more aged E-30 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS7 Portrait photography info
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
21
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS7 Street photography features
72
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (218 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS7 Sports photography info
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (750 per charge)
27
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS7 Travel photography features
49
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (750 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
63
lighter than others (218g)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS7 Landscape photography factors
52
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (750 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
38
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS7 Vlogging factors
18
can't shoot video
30
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (218 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS7
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Other name - Lumix DMC-TZ10
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-03-24 2011-07-19
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - AVCHD Lite
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lbs) 218 gr (0.48 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $1,299 $350